Wi-Fi Raises New Questions > Wireless is not a defense for clueless

Wireless is not a defense for clueless

On what grounds? 17 USC 512(a) removes liability for those who are deliberately providing access. If the access is being provided accidentally or even against the wishes of the provider (e.g. by someone hacking WEP), there's no grounds in the first place.

17 USC 512(a) only refers to Copyright Infringement and is certainly not a Get Out of Jail Free Card for those providing (intentionally or not) wireless access.

reply to russotto
Personal responsibility.

I am a member of the NRA. I will not leave a loaded gun
laying around for anybody to use. I use a wireless
connection. IT'S SECURE.

I can't get my boss to realize how bad it is to leave
an open connection via wireless. Things that could
happen because of an unsecured connection.

1. Lawsuit from RIAA/MPAA etc etc because someone
was out front of the business protesting RIAA tactics.
"Gee, your honour. I didn't know about those 10,000
illegal music files offered on my T1".

2. FBI/Local enforcement sting for child porn.
"Gee, your honour. I didn't know about those 1,000,000
illegal child porn files offered on my T1".

3. Getting blacklisted from every spam block list.
"Gee, I didn't know about those billions of spam messages
being passed through my T1".

Even if there is no legal standpoint. There is a point
where you must take responsibility.

reply to doppler
Totally agree. If they had bothered to even read the manuals, they would know. And if they did read the manual and did nothing to secure their networks, shame on them.

reply to doppler
For a number of years I have been installing computers and computer networks for people who still cannot figure out how to program their VCR. Recently, some of my 'customers' have been requesting wireless networks installed. I will only install them if they agree to sit down with me and hear my lesson about basic wireless network security. I will not install a network without, at a minimum WEP encryption, and MAC filtering. The customer realizes if they do not pay attention to my little lesson about how to access the router and enter MAC addresses and WEP keys they are not going to be able to add any more computers or get back on if the network goes down. I don't install a lot of wireless because most customers don't have the time to hear me out, or they are not savvy enough to comprehend what I'm saying. Some are so ignorant they tell me to F**** off they will find someone else to do it. The majority of computer users don't care. Their computers are full of virus and malware. What's one other thing like giving a hacker a free ride on your IP.